My Story
I first got into athletics because of my older brother - he decided to join our local track and field club, and as a competitive younger brother, I naturally had to join in too. I wasn't particularly good at the start, but I stuck with it and began to show real talent when I became Dutch U18 Decathlon Champion. That was only a year after I started taking the sport seriously. The next years brought challenges. I faced setbacks and missed time competing, and at one point I even considered stepping away from the sport altogether. But when I saw the U20 European Championships standard, I set my sights on it. I adapted my training to work around injuries, pushed through, and it paid off: I became U20 Dutch Decathlon Champion and qualified for my first international competition. There, I entered ranked 13th in Europe and fought my way to finish 6th overall with 7621 points. After that breakthrough, I spent a year training in the U.S. at the University of Central Arkansas.
It wasn't my most successful period — a mix of injuries and tough circumstances — but it ultimately led me to transfer to the University of Illinois. I chose Illinois because of Petros Kyprianou, one of the most successful combined-event coaches in the world. Training under him completely changed my approach and performance. In my very first senior/collegiate heptathlon, I scored 6046 points (6070 with flat track conversion), immediately qualifying for NCAA Nationals, ranking 1st in the NCAA, and 5th in the world. Although another setback kept me from competing further that season, I'm now fully back in training and preparing for a strong return in 2026.
Alongside my athletic career, I study Recreation, Sport & Tourism at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, a program that deepens my understanding of how sport can inspire and connect people. Whenever I return home to the Netherlands, I also dedicate my time to training and mentoring young athletes. Helping kids discover their passion for sports and seeing them grow — both on and off the track — reminds me why I started in the first place. It’s a way to give back to the community that shaped me and to share the same motivation that continues to drive me today.
6th All-Time Dutch Heptathlon
Big Ten Field Athlete of the Week
Multiple-time Dutch Champion
Ranked 13th Worldwide in 2025
Achievements
Competing in multi-events is about solving the full puzzle - sprints, jumps, throws,
endurance. Here are some of my proudest results so far and the milestones that shaped my career.
60m
6.96s
1500m
4:57.61
Discus
48.37m
Long Jump
7.39m
100m
11.06s
60m Hurdles
7.95s
Javelin
54.23m
400m
49.99s
110m Hurdles
14.52s
High Jump
2.00m
1000m
2:44.54
Shot Put
13.83m
Pole Vault
5.13m
Heptathlon PR
6046 points (6070 with flat track conversion)
Decathlon PR
7621 points
Stay Connected & Collaborate
Follow my journey as I continue to push boundaries, break records, and inspire the next generation of athletes. Whether you’re a fan, a media outlet, or a potential partner, I welcome the opportunity to connect, share stories, and create meaningful collaborations. Join me as I share behind-the-scenes moments, insights from training, and the highlights of every milestone along the way. Together, we can celebrate achievements, embrace challenges, and inspire greatness.
Get in Touch:
For interviews, media inquiries, or partnership opportunities, reach out through my contact form or email. Let’s achieve excellence together.